Puerto Rico: Pregnant women with Zika tops 1,500

The number of pregnant women in Puerto Rico confirmed positive fro Zika virus increased by 133 cases in the past week, bringing the total to 1,517, according to Secretary of Health, Ana Ríus Armendariz Friday.

Image/DigitalMarketingAgency

This prompted the secretary to stress the importance and to call on the public to continue prevention efforts against the Zika virus.

Other data that was released include the addition of 1,334 cumulative Zika cases on the island, bringing the total to 17,871 cumulative, confirmed cases since the virus arrived at the Commonwealth. Of the new cases, 12 required hospitalization for their illness.

The number of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) cases now stand at 45, after three more were reported last week.

“We have to protect ourselves and pregnant women. Must continue taking preventive measures that I have stressed week after week, Ríus Armendariz said. These include eliminating breeding sites, wearing light colored clothing and limit the amount of skin it is exposed and using repellent and investing in screens for doors and windows to create a barrier against us and the mosquitoes.”